Chapter 42: I Choose Chen Ping

"Welcome back."

"After four hours of rehearsal by forty actors, our competition officially begins."

Regardless of how immense the pressure was on the actors, the official competition commenced the next day.

Host Teacher Da Peng returned to the stage.

The first group of contestants also began their performance.

The first pair of contestants was Wang Zhi and Zhang Dada.

Wang Zhi had previously acted in *New Shaolin Temple*.

Zhang Dada was someone everyone was quite familiar with.

He was a well-known host.

As for why he came to *Actors, Please Take Your Place*?

Perhaps he wanted to challenge himself.

However,

what Zhang Dada hadn't expected was that this show was entirely filled with challenges.

When he and Wang Zhi finished performing their scene, all the directors gave unanimous negative reviews.

Director Chen Kaige criticized, "I really wanted to try to be moved by you two, but I wasn't moved at all. This was originally a very touching story, yet the way you performed it turned out to be so awkward. Besides, did you guys change the lines? Actually, I really dislike actors changing the lines. I'd like to ask, do actors think they have a better grasp of the lines than the screenwriter and the director?"

Chen Kaige directly poured a bucket of cold water, startling Zhang Dada on stage into a daze.

He had never imagined that a variety show would criticize people in such a manner.

Moreover, such criticism could not be described as anything less than scathing, leaving Zhang Dada without an ounce of face.

The other actors sitting in the audience also felt a chill in their hearts.

Many actors wondered whether the four directors would scold them like this when it was their turn to perform later.

As it turned out, they indeed would.

Following Chen Kaige, Liu Ming and Zhao Wei, although speaking more gently, likewise criticized this scene.

And even more formidable was Derek Yee.

Before understanding Derek Yee, one might have thought he was merely a director who had also made quite a few classic films.

But once Derek Yee actually took the stage, you would realize that he was practically a master of venomous tongues.

Just as Zhang Dada was explaining why his performance was so poor, Derek Yee directly interjected, "Your explanation just now is completely meaningless to us. Which actor doesn't face pressure? Which director doesn't face pressure? Ask Brother Kaige, when we make films, we lose more than just hair. Don't make so many excuses; if you can't do it, you can't do it. Furthermore, I think you're quite good as a host. I really want to know, why on earth did you come here when you were doing fine as a host..."

For a few seconds, Derek Yee's criticism left the entire audience in dead silence.

Zhang Dada was completely terrified and dazed by Derek Yee.

Even though Zhang Dada's mental resilience was passable, he was still shaken to a pale complexion by such criticism from Derek Yee.

"It's over, they're going to scold us next."

"I'm wondering how many fans we'll lose after being blasted by the directors."

"Is it still time to quit now?"

Many actors whispered among themselves from time to time.

Especially some of the young fresh-faced idols who had originally prepared to come here just to gild their resumes.

They had thought that such a variety show was like *Happy Camp*, meant simply to boost everyone's fan base.

Even when acting, things wouldn't be too strict, and some face would surely be spared.

Looking at it now,

what on earth was "saving face"?

In the eyes of several directors, especially Chen Kaige and Derek Yee, they didn't take you seriously at all.

No matter how popular a celebrity or how handsome an idol you were to the outside world, they would scold you just the same if you deserved it.

Take the second act, for example.

The second performance featured two young fresh-faced idols.

When their scene ended, Derek Yee directly stated, "You think you look very handsome? Is you handsome even comparable to Tony Leung? How long can your handsomeness last? Without acting skills, without some foundational skills to protect your life, you won't be popular for long. In a few years, will those fans still like you?"

Of course, the entire audience wasn't just filled with scoldings.

After seasoned actors Ma Shu and Ni Hongjie appeared on stage, all four directors warmly applauded both actors one after another.

"A veteran is a veteran; indeed, this scene was performed wonderfully."

"Who gets A and who gets B? This rule is unfair. Both performed well, but we can only choose one. What should we do?"

"It looks like we can only issue an S-card."

After recording for a full three hours, the entire program was only halfway done.

During the lunch break, Yuan Bingyan walked over to Chen Ping carrying her lunch tray: "Fine, this time I'll listen to you."

"Hehe, were you terrified by the four directors?"

"I really was."

Yuan Bingyan stuck out her tongue.

Although Yuan Bingyan felt her acting skills were passable,

even if they were passable, it didn't mean you could play every role well.

The role of Susu truly did not suit her. If she wanted to advance, it would have to be as Chen Ping said: minimize mistakes.

As long as other people made more mistakes, she could still advance even if her own performance was merely average.

She had to admit,

Chen Ping's analysis was correct.

In the afternoon, after Yuan Bingyan and Chen Youwei performed their excerpt from *Three Lives Three Worlds*, they were scolded several times by Derek Yee as well.

Especially Chen Youwei, who, having originated from an idol group, was scolded by Derek Yee almost to the point of tears.

Although Yuan Bingyan's performance wasn't great either, between the two of them, Yuan Bingyan was ultimately chosen.

"Chen Ping, let's practice a bit more later. How about another rehearsal?"

"Brother, it's almost our turn to perform our segment. Where is there time to rehearse?"

"I'm just nervous, you see my hand."

"Uh..."

Perhaps frightened by the four directors, Li Wenhan, who had yet to perform, had beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

During the rehearsals with Chen Ping over the past few days, he had been completely suppressed by Chen Ping.

Now that the official performance was upon them,

he could already imagine how Chen Kaige and Derek Yee would tear him to shreds with their criticism shortly.

"It's fine, actually I'm nervous too. Anyway, everyone before us has been scolded, so it's no big deal if we get scolded as well."

"You say it lightly. If this gets broadcasted completely, it's a guaranteed loss of fans."

"Is it that serious?"

"What do you think?"

"Uh..."

Comforting him had no effect, so Chen Ping could only leave Li Wenhan to fend for himself.

The afternoon session.

After waiting for a whole day, it was finally time for Chen Ping and Li Wenhan's segment, *The Deer and the Cauldron*.

This segment revolved around Kangxi finally discovering Wei Xiaobao's identity.

It turned out that Wei Xiaobao was not only lurking in the imperial palace, but was also the White Dragon Envoy of the Dragon Cult and the Incense Master of the Heaven and Earth Society's Qingsh Mu Hall.

This time, Kangxi was going to expose Wei Xiaobao's true identity and force Wei Xiaobao to kill a group of Heaven and Earth Society members.

Chen Ping and Li Wenhan took the stage.

However, just as the two of them stepped onto the stage, Derek Yee in the audience said, "Alright, I choose Chen Ping."

"Director Yee, you're being way too fast."

Zhao Wei said with great astonishment.

"What's fast about this? To see if someone can act, a single glance is enough. Li Wenhan hasn't even learned how to control his facial expressions, while Chen Ping... these two are completely worlds apart."

After saying this, Derek Yee glanced at Chen Kaige: "Brother Kaige, now I understand a few things. What you said the other day about Chen Ping bringing Chao Xiaoshu to life—that was actually true."

Chen Kaige smiled faintly: "You won't suspect he's my relative now, will you?"